Celina Peter started her career at Avient Corp., formerly PolyOne Corp., as a manufacturing co-op engineer in 2016 and is now an operations manager.
"I was very interested in getting hands-on manufacturing experience and seeing what chemical engineering was all about in the real world. I chose plastics over other industries because of their vital role in our everyday lives, whether we even realize it or not — from your toothbrush to tennis shoes, we interact with plastic materials in so many different ways.
"I completed three co-op rotations in Ohio, Alabama and Illinois. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh [with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering], I joined Avient's Engineering Leadership Development Program and worked at the McHenry, Ill., facility for two and a half years. I followed a great opportunity to join our Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Program in Birmingham, Ala., in June 2021," added Peter, who moved into the operations manager role in 2022.
Peter oversees the manufacturing operations of more than 40 staff members, and she focuses on safety, personnel training and development, and productivity improvements.
Outside of that role, she leads community engagement for the Community Charity Celebration Committee. She organizes and attends events each quarter for the site of 250-plus people, including volunteering at local food shelters, schools and nonprofits.
"My greatest achievement has been growing from a very shy co-op engineering student to a successful operations manager in the first five years of my career. This would not have been possible without the leadership programs, coaching and mentoring I received along the way," she said.
Peter has participated in employee resource groups at Avient such as LEAD by Women (Leadership, Empowerment, Advancement and Development) and HYPE (Harnessing Young Professional Energy). She also attends industry events and conferences, campus recruiting efforts and webinars. She has been involved with Women in the Composites Industry, a networking group that brings together women in the composites industry for education and development opportunities.
"Manufacturing composites is a unique process, and the end material has major advantages over alternative materials, including lightweighting, strength, cost efficiencies and the ability to customize profiles and shapes. These advantages are the reason the composites industry is growing rapidly," said Peter, who sees herself in a leadership role down the road, where she can drive continuous improvement in the company's processes, working toward its strategic vision.
"The current challenge at work is scaling up operations to meet the expected demand. A major expansion project is underway for our site this year. As an operations manager, having strong change management skills and a strategic vision is crucial to executing daily operations while setting the team up for a successful future."